the sea crashes on the rocks of the islands
seawalls battered like sieged stone castles
on the edge of the wide ocean
on the edge of power and chaos

waves dip and challenge barges and boats alike
blue gray clouds linger over ghostly white hulls in the bay
water and sky mingle in quiet patterns
as the mists overtake hundreds of masts
sitting in harbor communion

wooden houses on water’s edge groan against wind
tin roofs protest in a racket
casco bay windows weep with water